Warnick is a cheerful guide through the ways a person can become more attached and more fond of her community. I liked hanging out with her in these pages.

And I was impressed by the work she did to connect herself to her new city.

Though occasionally I longed for introvert-friendly variations on some of the steps. I just gotta tell you: There ain’t no way I’m inviting everyone on my block to my home for dinner anytime soon.

But many of the tips are easy and fun.

For example: “Find a place in your town to become a regular. Clues: Google the name of your town with ‘hidden gem,’ ‘local,’ ‘secret,’ ‘neighborhood,’ or ‘undiscovered.’” (p. 179)

And this one: “Read about your town’s history so you have a better sense of what it’s been through.” (p. 243)

Each chapter concludes with a “Love Your City Checklist,” and while some of the stuff I’m not doin’, I was glad to have some items to put on the to-do list.

And I learned that my house has a Walk Score of 70 — very walkable. (I already knew this: I can walk to the DQ and the library, so basically I’m all set.)

And I walked the walk a little bit, too… literally.

I walked (walking is one of the ways to love your city) to a locally owned cafe (buying local: that’s another way) that’s a few blocks from my house, and I sat in the shade and looked at the sunshine on the old buildings, and I ate wonderful food and I read my book.

This is what it looked like, and it was heaven.

So this book offers tips for people who already love where they live — you can always take it up a notch — but especially for those who don’t feel particularly connected to their town.

This sounds like such a great book. I moved to my city for college, but I didn't feel connected to it until my senior year, when I did an internship with the local tourism bureau. I learned so much about the city, and they sent me around to a bunch of different cultural institutions. When I finally got off campus and saw what the city had to offer, and the incredible transformation it's been going through over the last few years, I fell in love. Four years later, I still live here, and I really love living in an urban neighborhood within walking and biking distance of restaurants, bars, cafes, boutiques, free outdoor fitness classes, and street festivals. I think engaging with the treasures your community has to offer is key to loving where you live!